UijH 



^m fmpicAL AaftictriLfyMBf. [Nov. i, tme, 



rirnrrrmVttiaaattii 



is concerned, there is so much timber of every descrip- 

 tion within easy reach that we doub*; it Borneo can 

 ever expect to do a large business in that direction. 

 Another natural product found in considerable quant- 

 ities, and fig:uring largely among exports, is a kind 

 of native gutta-percha of several kinds, specimens of 

 which may be seen in the court. There are also speci- 

 mens of indiarubber in the court., and it also is 

 stated to be found in abundance. Wc have also 

 that rare Chinese luxury, edible birds' nests, which are 

 found in enormous quantities and of various qualities, 

 some of the finer kinds fetching very large prices. 

 A considerable export trade is done in this product. 

 Kattans, of course, grow in profusion, and they form 

 oue of the most important items of export. Tortoise- 

 shell, |bees-wax, vegetabletallow, gums, and beche-de-mer 

 are other products to be seen in the court that can be 

 turned to considerable commercial account. Of minerals, 

 coal and gold are shown ; and these and other minerals, 

 — tin, antimony, iron, copper, and cinnabar, are said 

 to exist in abundance. This is probably true with 

 reference to coal, as the testimony of explorers 

 proves, and, if so, the comi)any will certainly be fortun- 

 ate. But the interest and duty of the company at 

 present are to demonstrate in a manner satisfactory 

 to practical men and possible settlers that these and 

 other resources do exist in the abundance conjectured. 

 No mere vague statements will produce much effect. 



As to cultivated products, there seems little doubt 

 that the soil of North Bo;neo is well adapted for nearly 

 all tropical cultuies. Tobacco, sago, pepper, gambler, 

 Manila hemp, sugar are shown in this court ; while the 

 natives largely cultivate rice. A German company has 

 entered on the cultivation of tobacco, and a report we 

 have seen speaks well of the results. It compares the 

 Borneo tobacco to that of Sumatra, and we believe 

 Sumatra tobacco has actually been introduced. No 

 doubt the tobacco is good enough, and its culture 

 deserves encouragement; but it seems to us premature 

 to bring it forward as something exceptionally superior. 

 The company certainly oifer liberal terms to planters 

 and settlers, and even advance money to those in want 

 of capita], under certain conditians. We believe a 

 Chinese company are at work with capital partly ad- 

 vanced by the company. Ii is doubtful whether the 

 natives themselves will ever be of much service in de- 

 veloping Ihe colony, and it would certainly bo a good 

 thing for the company if they could induce Chinese to 

 immigrate in large numbers. 



The court abounds in " curies " and in articles of 

 native manufacture and ethnological interest. The 

 clothes and apparel used by the Dusuns, the principal 

 tribe of the colony, are abundantly representdl, as well as 

 implements and "weapons and ornaments. There are a 

 Dusun winnowing machine, plough, rice decorticator, 

 harrow, reaping knife, distaff ; a bamboo lyre, knives, 

 war apparel, shields, a curious coat of mail, swords, 

 kri", a poogun used in producing fire, and other such 

 anic'es, in'ereeting to ci>nip:iro with similar exhibits 

 in other courts in which sf mi-barbarous features are 

 nroiuiueiit. The Malay cxccutijn kriij if* an ugly look- 

 ing we^tpon ; whi c we ;*re Rlad to !^ce the last pirate 

 Jiatr, ttikti) i.u lAirvell'-jty iu April, 1HM,5, and a model 

 Of a pirats boiit, 



The ci)W\:!ihy bn.vs; eertnisjly nrquircd oue of liic 

 cbl•ic"^t bits of a fine island) iududiug an area of <JI,OJO 

 aquarc mileH, wit!\ a co.a.'st-lluc of fiOO milen, con- 

 taining several inagnificent harbours. OnS ct the 

 best of these is Saudakan Bay, in which stmidtJ the 

 *!bicf settlement, .Sandakan. On thifi area the esti- 

 «latf'1 population is only 150,000. — Mahomedan Malays 

 with nil i'lfusio!! of Cliincse aiul Arab blood on the 

 coast, and v..r^aus abotiginal tribes, mainly Dumuis, 

 in the int( rior. The country ie well watered, some 

 of the rivi rs being navigable for small craft for a cou- 

 Biilerable distance. There are picturesque mountain 

 ran!re,«i averaging G,000 ft., rising in Ivina Balu to 

 13,700 ft., a jjicturc of which forms one of the decor- 

 ations of the court. Elephants, rhinoceroses, butfa- 

 \oiK, and other large game are found, and willdoubt- 

 Icjs afford fair sport for some time to come. _ The 

 territory was ceded to Mr. Dent and others in 1877~S7 

 by the' Sultwis of l^r^ilei fuul Sulu, aocj the cyoi- 



pany, was formed, and chartered in 1882. The com- 

 pany, we understand, act only as administrators, 

 preferring to rent the land to settlers able to de- 

 velop it. The ports are free, but a royalty of 10 

 per cent is charged on the export of jungle pro- 

 duce ; the bulk of the revenue, however, is de- 

 rived from farming the right to sell opium, to- 

 bacco, and s])irits. During the short time the 

 company have been in possession of the territory 

 the progress has been marked. The revenue 

 has increased from §20,297 in 1881 to Sl0(J,19O in 1885, 

 and is estimated at > 127,886 for 1886. The expenditure 

 has not increased in anything like the same proportion ; 

 in 1881 it was sl08,294 ; in 1835, $202,075. The ex- . 

 ports, again, have advanced from Sl-45,-143 in 1881 to 

 $387,757 in 1885. To illustrate the hopeful prospects 

 of this infant colony, tlie rapid progress of the com- 

 merce of Hongkong and the Straits Settlements is ad- 

 duced. But it seems to be forgotten that this progress 

 is almost entirely due to the importance of these two 

 colonies as emporia for the trade of the Far East, and 

 not to any great extent to the development of native 

 resources, of which Hongkong has none. We doubt if 

 there is room for a third entrepot so near to Singapore 

 as North Borneo is. Let the company by all means en- 

 deavour to attract trade to its harbours, but it seems to 

 us that the prosperity of the colony must depend 

 mainly on the development of its natural resources, and 

 the culture of the tropical products for which its soil 

 and climate are so well adapted. As to climate, it 

 seems fairly well fitted for European residence, under 

 the precautions which should be taken in every tropical 

 couutry. 



It is to be expected that the colony will soon be- 

 comeau Imperial possession. And, if go, it might be 

 advisable to consider whether an arrangement could 

 not be made by which for administrative purposes it 

 might be combined with Sarawak and Brunei; for 

 we believe it would not be difficult to persuade the 

 Sultan of the latter to part with his rights for a 

 moderate consideration, while Rajah Brooke, of Sar- 

 awak, might not object to be placed under Imperial 

 protection. The North Borneo Company certainly de- 

 serve credit for the very effective steps they have taken 

 to explore the'r territory and take stock of its resources; 

 and if they could only succeed in attractiog capital and 

 labour probably much could be made of it. They have 

 had several zealous and competent officials, who have 

 done good work for science as well as for the company. 

 Among the names that ought to be mentioned in con- 

 nexion with this court are those of the Executive Com- 

 missioner, Sir Hutherford Alcock, chairman of the com- 

 pany ; Mr. Alfred Dent and Mr. William Kidner, Com- 

 missioners, and Mr. W. M. Crocker, Afsistant Com- 

 missioner. — London Tunes. 



TKA AS AN INVESTMENT FOR CAPITAL. 



The Stail.f/,\n a recent article, called attontiou to the 

 favourable prospects of Tea cultivation in India and 

 Ceylon, .5tatinK that " The profits of the Indian Tea 

 Companies," \\^ierc there has been the combination of 

 careful management and freedom from debt, have 

 been very satisfactory in several iiistauccs. The 

 Assam, tlic Darjocling, and tho Lobong Companies 

 have yielded good dividends in face of claiming prices 

 of the produce. The dividoufls pflid arc set out below 

 iox i'eferci>cc, O'Tid wo add tho price por lb. realiscci 

 for the toa sent home for sale ;— 



" Dividends at per cent, per aununi, and price pel* 

 lb. realised (exclusive of exchange) for Tea sold by 

 undermentioned Indian Tea Companies :— 



Assam. 18Si. 18S:5. 18S2. 1881. iHgy, 



11 



10 



Dividends.. U 

 Trice of Tea 11 ;d 



Darjceling. 

 Dividends.. 7 

 Price of Tea la aid 



Lcbong, 



Dividends.. it l» « 7 H 



Trice of Tea Is 1 l-5d Is 5 2r.d Is od Is G|d Is l|d 

 " Provided, then, that estates are acquired at reason^ 

 able prices, that able miuagcmeut ia secured, an<J tb»t 



Is Id Is 1 7-lGd l8 ijd l3 lid 



7A tl 8 T^ 



Is lijd Is 3^d Is 7^d la b^i 



